Hair twister

ABSTRACT

The present invention a hair twister includes a spool for twisting hair thereon; a drum mounted within a cylinder, the drum rotatably mounted within the cylinder for operatively winding hair onto the spool said drum and cylinder together for simultaneously winding hair onto the spool and for compressing the hair on the spool; and a method for releasing the twisted hair from the spool. Preferably wherein the drum including outer drum threads and a cylinder top including cooperating cylinder top threads for threadably engaging with the drum, such that rotating the drum threadably urges the drum along a longitudinal direction within the cylinder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair curling and twisting devices and in particular relates to a automated hair twisting device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a number of devices in the market place currently which provide for curling and/or setting of hair. There are a number of devices on the market which allow the user to create or prepare large curls of hair. Current styles have indicated that many persons would prefer to have a spring lock style hair set and/or a natural dread lock type hair look. Hair curls to provide for either spring locks or dread locks, need to be extremely small in diameter and rather than curling of hair, one needs to have a device which will twist hair. Currently, there are no useful automated apparatus on the market which will create a natural dread lock or a very tight spring lock type hairstyling. Dread locks and/or looser spring locks currently can be created by hand through very careful, time consuming and labour intense hair twisting.

Therefore, there is a need for a device which will more automatically create a tight dread lock or a somewhat looser spring lock in order to produce various hair styles which are in demand presently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention a hair twister includes;

-   a) a spool for twisting hair thereon; -   b) a means for simultaneously winding hair onto the spool and for     compressing the hair on said spool; -   c) means for releasing the twisted hair from the spool.

Preferably wherein said winding means includes a drum mounted within a cylinder, said drum rotatably mounted within said cylinder for operatively winding hair onto said spool.

Preferably wherein said drum including outer drum threads and a cylinder top including cooperating cylinder top threads for threadably engaging with said drum, such that rotating the drum threadably urges the drum along a longitudinal direction within said cylinder.

Preferably wherein said spool being slidably received within a spool receiving channel defined in said drum as said drum rotatably moves in a forward direction within the cylinder.

Preferably wherein said cylinder also including a cylinder bottom, wherein said cylinder bottom having a smooth surface such that said drum slidably received within said cylinder bottom and threadably received within said cylinder top.

Preferably wherein said cylinder top being pivotally attached to said cylinder bottom, wherein said cylinder top being pivotable between an open position and a closed position, such that in the open position said drum is free to move slidably in the longitudinal direction along said cylinder bottom, and in said closed position said drum threadably engaging with said cylinder top threads.

Preferably wherein said drum moveable within said cylinder between a retracted position, engaged position and extended position, such that in said retracted position said spool is clear of said drum permitting removal of hair from said spool.

Preferably wherein said drum including a clip for releasably retaining a hair on a front face of said drum as said drum is rotating and moving forwardly along the longitudinal direction from said engaged position to said extended position, wherein said hair being fully twisted and compressed when said drum in said extended position.

Preferably wherein said winding means including a drive means operably connected to said drum for rotating said drum.

Preferably wherein said drive means including a spline slidably received within a spline receiving channel defined in a rearward portion of said drum, wherein said spline operably connected to a drive motor for rotating said drum.

Preferably wherein said drum including a front face impinging on said hair on said spool, such that as said drum being urged in a forward direction within said cylinder said drum front face compressing said hair on said spool.

Preferably further including a means for applying fluid to said hair as said hair being twisted and compressed onto said spool.

Preferably wherein said fluid means including a fluid applicator including a nozzle for applying fluid onto hair on said spool.

Preferably wherein said fluid applicator including a fluid reservoir connected to said nozzle with a fluid conduit for communicating fluid from said reservoir to said nozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of the present invention a hair twister.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the hair twister shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the present invention a hair twister.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational end view of the hair twister shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the hair twister shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front schematic elevational view of the hair twister shown in FIG. 7 showing the cylinder top being pivoted open.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the hair twister with the cylinder top being pivoted open.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the hair twister with the cylinder top being pivoted open.

FIG. 9 is a rear top perspective view of the drum.

FIG. 10 is a front top perspective view of the drum showing the clip.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the drum together with the spool and the spline.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the drum together with the spool and the spline.

FIG. 13 is an assembly view of the spool, the drum, the spline and the drive shaft showing the drum in the retracted position.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational perspective view of the spool, the drum, the spline and the drive shaft showing the drum in the engaged position.

FIG. 15 is an assembly view of the spool, the drum, the spline and the drive shaft showing the drum in the retracted position.

FIG. 16 is a side plan view of the spool, the drum, the spline and the drive shaft showing the drum in the extended position.

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross sectional view of the drum in the cylinder shown in the engaged position.

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the drum and the cylinder shown advancing into the extended position.

FIG. 19 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the drum shown in the extended position.

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of the present invention a hair twister with the cylinder top shown in the closed position.

FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of the present invention a hair twister with the cylinder top shown in the open position.

FIG. 22 is a front perspective view in the open position with a hair engaged onto the clip with the drum shown in the engaged position.

FIG. 23 is a front schematic perspective view of the present invention a hair twister with the cylinder top shown in the closed position with the drum moving toward the extended position with twisted hair shown being twisted onto the spool.

FIG. 24 is a front schematic perspective view together with a person shown a lock of hair being twisted onto the spool with the drum shown in the fully extended position and the cylinder top closed.

FIG. 25 is a side elevational schematic plan view of the drum, spool and spline showing a lock of hair being attached to clip.

FIG. 26 is a side elevational schematic plan view of the drum mounted onto the spline and the spool showing a lock of twisted hair, twisted onto the spool.

FIG. 27 is a side elevational plan perspective view of the drum, spool and spline showing the hair in the filly twisted condition.

FIG. 28 is a front elevational view of the fluid applicator shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 29 is a top plan view of the fluid applicator.

FIG. 30 is a side elevational plan view of the fluid applicator.

FIG. 31 is a bottom plan view of the fluid applicator.

FIG. 32 is a end elevational view of the fluid applicator.

FIG. 33 is a front top perspective schematic view of the fluid applicator.

FIG. 34 is a top front schematic perspective view of the present invention a hair twister together with the fluid applicator mounted thereon.

FIG. 35 is a schematic cross sectional view of a hair twister together with the fluid applicator shown in cross section along the centre line of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention, a hair twister shown generally as 100 includes the following major components, namely housing 102, cylinder 104 being comprised of cylinder top 106 and cylinder bottom 108, spool 110 mounted onto spool support 112, drum 114 threadably engaging with drum thread 116, with cylinder top threads 118, spline 120, drive shaft 122, drive motor 124, handle 126 and trigger 128.

Optionally attached to hair twister 100 is fluid applicator 141 which includes the following major components, namely fluid reservoir 140, fluid conduit 142 and fluid nozzle 144.

Drum and Cylinder Unit

From the drawings a person skilled in the art will notice that drum 114 is threadably engaged with drum threads 116 with cylinder top 118. Drum 114 includes at one end a spline receiving channel 150 and at the other end a spool receiving channel 152. Spline 120 is slideably received within spline receiving channel 150 as drum 114 moves longitudinally along longitudinal direction 110 of spline 120. Spool 110 is supported at one end with spool support 112 and at the other end by spool receiving channel 152 of drum 114. Spline 120 is connected to drive shaft 122 which is in turn connected to drive motor 124. Drum 114 also includes on the front face a clip 160 for clipping a lock of hair there under.

Hair twister 100 also includes a handle 126 for holding in a persons hand and a trigger 128 which essentially is a switch for turning motor 124 on and off and also potentially for reversing the rotation of direction of motor 124.

Fluid Applicator

Fluid applicator shown generally as 141 includes a fluid reservoir 140 which can house numerous types of fluid 146. Fluid reservoir 140 also includes a release button 148 which can either be a manual pump for manually pumping fluid 146 through fluid conduit 142 to fluid nozzle 144 where fluid can be deposited onto cylinder top 118.

In Use

Referring particularly now to FIGS. 21 through 27 inclusively, the present invention an hair twister 100 is employed as follows.

As shown in FIG. 22, cylinder top 106 can be pivotly opened to open position 180. Cylinder top 106 pivots about cylinder hinge 132 and in the closed position 182 is latched onto the other side of housing 102 with a latch 130. With cylinder top 106 in the open position 180, a lock of hair 190 can be clipped onto clip 160 in order to the hold the end of the lock of hair 190 onto clip 160. Drum 114 is in the engaged position 174 meaning that spline 120 is slideably received within spline receiving channel 150 and drum 114 is near the rear portion of cylinder top 106, such that the front portion of drum 114 just engages with cylinder top threads 118. Once a lock of hair 190 is clipped onto clip 160, the cylinder top 106 is pivoted closed to the closed position 182 as shown in FIG. 34 and also schematically shown in FIG. 23 in dashed lines in order that one is still able to see drum 114. Trigger 128 is depressed activating motor 124 which rotates in rotational direction 200 and as drum 114 is rotated by a motor 124 via spline 120 and drive shaft 122, it moves along longitudinal direction 210 to the forward portion of housing 102. A person skilled in the art will note that cylinder bottom 108 does not have any threads engaging with drum threads 116, but rather drum 114 simply slideably and rotatably advances along cylinder bottom 108 and simultaneously engages with cylinder top threads 118.

As drum 114 simultaneously rotates and longitudinally advances along longitudinal direction 210, lock of hair 190 is twisted onto spool 110 curling twisted hair 192 around spool 110. Simultaneously as the lock of hair 190 is twisted, it is also compressed on spool 110 as the front face 220 of drum 114 compresses twisted hair 192 onto spool 110. Spool 110 is supported at the front end by spool support 112 and on the reward portion is slideably received within spool receiving channel 152 of drum 114.

Continuing to rotate drum 114 via motor 124, continues to advance drum 114 along longitudinal direction 210 and continues to twist hair locks 190 until drum 114 reaches the extended position 172 at which point the hair in the fully twisted hair condition as shown as 194. Fully twisted hair 194 is not only twisted about spool 114, but is also compressed on spool 110, thereby creating a dread lock by both winding or twisting and compressing hair 190. Once the twisting and compressing is completed, cylinder top 106 can once again be moved to the open position 180, the end of hair 190 can be removed from clip 160 and drum 114 can be manually slide back until it reaches the retracted position 170, such that drum 114 is clear of spool 110 and fully twisted hair 194 can now be easily slide off of spool 110.

Use of Fluid Applicator 141

Optionally a fluid applicator 141 can be mounted onto the top of hair twister 100 for the application of fluid onto fully twisted hair 194. Preferably, fluid applicator 141 which includes a fluid reservoir 140 containing a hair treatment fluid 146 by pressing release button 148, one can manually pump hair treatment fluid 146 out of nozzle 144 and onto fully twisted hair 194 thereby treating the hair as required by the operator. It is also possible that when cylinder top 106 is placed in the open position 180 after winding or twisting the hair on spool 110 and compressing the hair onto spool 110 into the fully twisted condition 194, optionally a set of springs shown as 162 can be used to slideably retract drum 114 along cylinder 104, rather than manually urging drum 114 along cylinder 104 back to the retracted position 170.

It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim. 

1. A hair twister comprising: a) a spool for twisting hair thereon; b) a means for simultaneously winding hair onto the spool and for compressing the hair on said spool; c) means for releasing the twisted hair from the spool.
 2. The hair twister claimed in claim 1 wherein said winding means includes a drum mounted within a cylinder, said drum rotatably mounted within said cylinder for operatively winding hair onto said spool.
 3. The hair twister claimed in claim 2 wherein said drum including outer drum threads and a cylinder top including cooperating cylinder top threads for threadably engaging with said drum, such that rotating the drum threadably urges the drum along a longitudinal direction within said cylinder.
 4. The hair twister claimed in claim 2 wherein said spool being slidably received within a spool receiving channel defined in said drum as said drum rotatably moves in a forward direction within the cylinder.
 5. The hair twister claimed in claim 3 wherein said cylinder also including a cylinder bottom, wherein said cylinder bottom having a smooth surface such that said drum slidably received within said cylinder bottom and threadably received within said cylinder top.
 6. The hair twister claimed in claim 5 wherein said cylinder top being pivotally attached to said cylinder bottom, wherein said cylinder top being pivotable between an open position and a closed position, such that in the open position said drum is free to move slidably in the longitudinal direction along said cylinder bottom, and in said closed position said drum threadably engaging with said cylinder top threads.
 7. The hair twister claimed in claim 6 wherein said drum moveable within said cylinder between a retracted position, engaged position and extended position, such that in said retracted position said spool is clear of said drum permitting removal of hair from said spool.
 8. The hair twister claimed in claim 7 wherein said drum including a clip for releasably retaining a hair on a front face of said drum as said drum is rotating and moving forwardly along the longitudinal direction from said engaged position to said extended position, wherein said hair being fully twisted and compressed when said drum in said extended position.
 9. The hair twister claimed in claim 2 wherein said winding means including a drive means operably connected to said drum for rotating said drum.
 10. The hair twister claimed in claim 9 wherein said drive means including a spline slidably received within a spline receiving channel defined in a rearward portion of said drum, wherein said spline operably connected to a drive motor for rotating said drum.
 11. The hair twister claimed in claim 4 wherein said drum including a front face impinging on said hair on said spool, such that as said drum being urged in a forward direction within said cylinder said drum front face compressing said hair on said spool.
 12. The hair twister claimed in claim 1 further including a means for applying fluid to said hair as said hair being twisted and compressed onto said spool.
 13. The hair twister claimed in claim 12 wherein said fluid means including a fluid applicator including a nozzle for applying fluid onto hair on said spool.
 14. The hair twister claimed in claim 13 wherein said fluid applicator including a fluid reservoir connected to said nozzle with a fluid conduit for communicating fluid from said reservoir to said nozzle. 